Network switch, route setup method, program, and parallel computer system

ABSTRACT

A network switch that outputs multicast packets from a plurality of output ports correlated with a plurality of input ports. A multicast control section designates an input port that has received a route setup command and an output port that outputs the route setup command to be transferred to a destination designated by the route setup command as ports that output the multicast packets. In multicast communications, the multicast packets are transferred to ports other than the input port that has received the multicast packets of the ports designated by a multicast section as those that output the multicast packet.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a network switch, a route setup method,a program, and a parallel computer system.

BACKGROUND ART

Generally, parallel computer systems in which a plurality of computationnodes are connected through a mutual connection network are used toprocess large scale problems at high speed. In these parallel computersystems, a plurality of nodes share computations associated withprocesses for target problems. At this point, data necessary forcomputations and their resultant computation data need to be mutuallyexchanged between computation nodes. Thus, data are transferred from onecomputation node to another computation node through the mutualconnection network.

When packets that contain the same data are transmitted from onecomputation node to a plurality of computation nodes, the objective canbe achieved in such a manner that the same packets are successivelytransmitted from the source computation node to different destinationcomputation nodes. However, if the mutual connection network is providedwith a function that copies a packet with which data are transferred andtransmits the copied packets to a plurality of computation nodes, theload that the source computation node imposes on the mutual connectionnetwork can decrease and thereby shorten the data transfer time. Theactivity that transmits the same data from one computation node to aplurality of computation nodes is referred to as the multicastcommunication function.

The MPI (Message Passing Interface) in which is known as an ordinaryform that describes a program executed on a parallel computer manages aset of processes that communicate with each other as a communicator andis provided with a plurality of functions that perform multicastcommunications with processes contained in the communicator.

For example, “MPI_Bcast” that the MPI defines is a function thattransmits data that a particular process stores to all processescontained in the same communicator. Although this communicator maydesignate a set of processes of the whole system, it may specify asubset of processes. On the other hand, “MPI_Allgather” is a functionthat transmits designated data from any process contained in thecommunicator to all the processes contained in the same communicator.

Although the activities that functions such as “MPI_Bcast” and“MPI_Allgather” perform the multicast communications can be accomplishedby executing a unicast communication that is a one-to-one communicationa plurality of number of times, if the mutual connection network isprovided with an activity that copies a packet and transmits the copiedpackets to a plurality of computation nodes, it is preferred to use thisactivity with which the mutual communication network is provided. Thismeans that the data transfer time can be shortened and the executionperformance of the entire program can be improved.

Various techniques that reduce the data transfer time and improve theexecution performance for the entire program have been proposed.

For example, Non-patent Literature 1 discloses a mutual connectionnetwork that is provided with a multicast communication activity. Inthis technique, network switches 1100-1 to 1100-4 and network switch1200 shown in FIG. 14 are connected such that a tree-structure networkis formed. In addition, computation nodes 1300-1 to 1300-4 and networkswitch 1100-1 are connected; computation nodes 1400-1 to 1400-4 andnetwork switch 1100-2 are connected; computation nodes 1500-1 to 1500-4and network switch 1100-3 are connected; and computation nodes 1600-1 to1600-4 and network switch 1100-4 are connected. In this case, amulticast packet transmitted from computation node 1300-1 is transmittedto a particular network switch such as network switch 1200 that has beendesignated as its destination and that is the root of the networkstructure through network switch 1100-1. Network switch 1200 that hasbeen designated as the destination always receives multicast packets.Then, network switch 1200 transfers the multicast packets to individualcomputation nodes contained in the process group that performs multicastcommunications based on communication route information that designatesthe multicast packets to be transferred.

RELATED ART LITERATURE Non-Patent Literature Non-patent Literature 1:“Hardware- and Software-Based Collective Communication on the QuadricsNetwork”, Proceedings of NCA 2001. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Problem tobe Solved by the Invention

According to the technique disclosed as Non-patent Literature 1, asshown in FIG. 14, multicast packets go and come back between networkswitch 1100-1 and network switch 1200. Thus, multicast packets passthrough network switch 1100-1 twice in the upstream and downstreamdirections and thereby a problem in which the network cannot beeffectively used arises.

The present invention aims at providing a network switch, a route setupmethod, a program, and a parallel computer system that solve theabove-described problem.

Means that Solve the Problem

To solve the above-described problem, a network switch according to thepresent invention is a network switch that has a plurality of inputports and a plurality of output ports correlated with the input portsand that outputs multicast packets from said output ports, comprising: amulticast control information storing section that stores multicastcontrol information that is information that designates an output portthat outputs said multicast packet from said plurality of output ports;and a multicast control section that causes said multicast controlinformation storing section to set up a transfer route of said multicastpacket, wherein said multicast control section designates an output portcorrelated with an input port that has received a route setup commandthat causes the network switch to set up a transfer route and an outputport that outputs the route setup command as output ports that transfersaid multicast packet such that the route setup command reaches adestination designated by the route setup command when the multicastcontrol section receives the route setup command and the multicastcontrol section outputs the multicast packets to output ports other thanthe output port correlated with the input port that has received themulticast packet of the output ports designated by the multicast controlinformation stored in said multicast control information storing sectionwhen said multicast control section receives the multicast packet.

To solve the above-described problem, a route setup method according tothe present invention is a multicast route setup method for a networkswitch that has a plurality of input ports and a plurality of outputports correlated with the input ports and that outputs multicast packetsfrom said output ports, comprising: a multicast control informationstoring process that stores multicast control information that isinformation that designates an output port that outputs said multicastpacket from said plurality of output ports; a multicast control processthat causes said multicast control information storing process to set upa transfer route of said multicast packet, said multicast controlprocess designating an output port correlated with an input port thathas received a route setup command that causes the network switch to setup a transfer route and an output port that outputs the route setupcommand as output ports that transfer said multicast packet such thatthe route setup command reaches a destination designated by the routesetup command when the network switch receives the route setup command;and a multicast transfer process that outputs the multicast packets tooutput ports other than the output port correlated with the input portthat has received the multicast packet of the output ports designated bythe multicast control information stored in said multicast controlinformation storing process when the network switch receives themulticast packet.

In addition, a program that causes a computer, a parallel computersystem, to execute procedures comprising: a multicast controlinformation storing procedure that stores multicast control informationthat is information that designates an output port that outputs amulticast packet from a plurality of output ports, a network switch thathas a plurality of input ports and said plurality of output portscorrelated with the input ports; a multicast control procedure thatcauses said multicast control information storing procedure to set up atransfer route of said multicast packet, said multicast controlprocedure designating an output port correlated with an input port thathas received a route setup command that causes the network switch to setup a transfer route and an output port that outputs the route setupcommand as output ports that transfer said multicast packet such thatthe route setup command reaches a destination designated by the routesetup command when the network switch receives the route setup command;and a multicast transfer procedure that outputs the multicast packets tooutput ports other than the output port correlated with the input portthat has received the multicast packet of the output ports designated bythe multicast control information stored in said multicast controlinformation storing procedure when the network switch receives themulticast packet.

Effect of the Invention

According to the present invention, the network can be effectively used.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a structure of a parallel computersystem according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an exemplary data structure of aunicast packet, an exemplary data structure of a route setup command, anexemplary data structure of a setup completion notification, and anexemplary data structure of a multicast packet.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a structure of a network switchshown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a structure of a multicast controlsection shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an exemplary data structure ofmulticast control information.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing an operation of a network switch thatperforms when it receives a route setup command and a route setupcompletion notification.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing an operation sequence of aparallel computer system that performs when it sets up an output portthat outputs a multicast packet.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a flow of route setup commandsthat are transmitted in the parallel computer system according to afirst exemplary operation.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a flow of setup completionnotifications that are transmitted in the parallel computer systemaccording to the first exemplary operation.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a flow of multicast packetstransmitted in the parallel computer system according to the firstexemplary operation.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a flow of route setup commandsthat are transmitted in the parallel computer system according to asecond exemplary operation.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing a flow of setup completionnotifications that are transmitted in the parallel computer systemaccording to the second exemplary operation.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing a flow of multicast packetstransmitted in the parallel computer system according to the secondexemplary operation.

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing an exemplary flow of multicastpackets transmitted in a tree structure network that is provided withmulticast activity, and that is disclosed in Non-patent Literature 1.

CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

In the following, a parallel computer system (including a networkswitch, a route setup method, and a program) according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention will be described.

First, with reference to FIG. 1, the structure of the parallel computersystem according to this exemplary embodiment will be described. Asshown in FIG. 1, the parallel computer system is composed of computationnode group 1 and mutual connection network 2.

Computation nodes 11-1 to 11-4, 12-1 to 12-4, 13-1 to 13-4, and 14-1 to14-4 contained in computation node group 1 are mutually connected tomutual connection network 2.

Mutual connection network 2 is composed of a plurality of networkswitches 21-1 to 21-4 and 22. The form of mutual connection network 2can be arbitrary. For example, mutual connection network 2 may be amulti-stage connection network. According to this exemplary embodiment,mutual connection network 2 is a tree-structure network.

Network switches 21-1 to 21-4 and 22 are respectively assigned “switchidentification information” that uniquely identifies network switches21-1 to 21-4 and 22.

Network switches 21-1 to 21-4 are directly connected to computation nodegroup 1. Likewise, network switch 22 is mutually connected to networkswitches 21-1 to 21-4. A plurality of network switches 22 may beprovided.

Computation nodes 11-1 to 11-4, 12-1 to 12-4, 13-1 to 13-4, and 14-1 to14-4 each are independent “terminals” that are provided with anarithmetic unit and a memory.

Processes that execute predetermined processing operations includingarithmetic processing operations associated with a problem that theparallel computer system solves operate in computation nodes 11-1 to11-4, 12-1 to 12-4, 13-1 to 13-4, and 14-1 to 14-4. In this exemplaryembodiment, the case in which one process operates in each ofcomputation nodes 11-1 to 11-4, 12-1 to 12-4, 13-1 to 13-4, and 14-1 to14-4 will be described.

In addition, computation nodes 11-1 to 11-4, 12-1 to 12-4, 13-1 to 13-4,and 14-1 to 14-4 generate multicast packets transmitted to a pluralityof particular destinations.

Multicast packets contain multicast IDs that are “group identificationinformation” uniquely assigned to a “process group” composed ofcomputation nodes that execute multicast communications. An example of aprocess group is a communicator treated as a set of processes thatperform communications for MPI communications.

Computation nodes each store group identification information of aprocess group that contains processes that operate in the computationnodes. The group identification information can be arbitrary as long asit can uniquely identify a process group.

A computation node that transmits a multicast packet of computationnodes 11-1 to 11-4, 12-1 to 12-4, 13-1 to 13-4, and 14-1 to 14-4generates “a route setup command” that sets up a route through which themulticast packet is transferred and transmits the route setup command toa multicast control switch.

In this instance, a “multicast control switch” is a network switch thatcontrols the transfer of a multicast packet.

According to this exemplary embodiment, network switches 21-1 to 21-4and 22 each transfer a multicast packet transmitted from a particularcomputation node to all computation nodes, other than a sourcecomputation node, of a process group.

One of network switches 21-1 to 21-4 and 22 is designated as a multicastcontrol switch for every process group.

In this exemplary embodiment, the case in which processes that operatein computation nodes 11-1 to 11-4, 12-1 to 12-4, 13-1 to 13-4, and 14-1to 14-4 transmit route setup commands that designate network switch 22as a multicast control switch will be exemplified.

Next, with reference to FIG. 2, packet data that are transmitted in theparallel computer system according to this exemplary embodiment will bedescribed.

The parallel computer system according to this exemplary embodimenthandles four types of “packet data” that are a unicast packet, a routesetup command, a setup completion notification, and a multicast packet.In the following, the case in which these packet data are 32-bit packetdata will be exemplified.

These four types of packet data can be identified as a unicast packet, aroute setup command, a setup completion notification, and a multicastpacket based on command information assigned to their leading two bits.

A unicast packet is packet data that are transmitted and receivedthrough one-to-one communication performed between one particularcomputation node and another computation node of computation nodes 11-1to 11-4, 12-1 to 12-4, 13-1 to 13-4, and 14-1 to 14-4.

According to this exemplary embodiment, a unicast packet is composed oftwo-bit command information “00,” four-bit destination information thatuniquely identifies a transmission destination computation node, and26-bit remaining data portion.

As described above, a “route setup command” is packet data that sets upa route through which a multicast packet is transferred.

According to this exemplary embodiment, a route setup command includestwo-bit command information “01,” a four-bit multicast ID, six-bit“designation information,” and a six-bit “group member process count.”

The “destination information” is information that represents thedestination of the route setup command. According to this exemplaryembodiment, the same information as switch identification informationassigned to a network switch that is a multicast control switch isdesignated as the destination information.

The “group member process count” is the number of computation nodes inwhich processes contained in a particular process group operate. Ifsingle processes that operate in computation nodes 11-1, 11-2, 12-1,13-1, and 14-1 are members of the same process group, the group memberprocess count is “5.”

Each of computation nodes that perform multicast communications and thatare members of the same process group generate a route setup command.Thus, computation nodes 11-1 to 11-4, 12-1 to 12-4, 13-1 to 13-4, and14-1 to 14-4 that contain these processes have stored a multicast ID,destination information, and a group member process count that arewritten into a route setup command.

When a transfer route of a multicast packet has been set up, themulticast control switch generates a “setup completion notification” andis a “reply signal to the route setup command” that denotes that thetransfer route has been set up.

According to this exemplary embodiment, a setup completion notificationincludes two-bit command information “10” and a four-bit multicast ID.

A setup completion notification is transmitted to computation nodescontained in a process group that is identified by the multicast IDcontained in the setup completion notification through a network switchassociated with multicast communications of the process group.

A multicast packet is “packet data for which multicast communicationsare performed.”

According to this exemplary embodiment, a multicast packet is composedof two-bit command information “11”, a four-bit multicast ID, and a26-bit data section.

A multicast packet transmitted from a computation node that has receiveda setup completion notification reaches all processes contained in aprocess group represented by the multicast ID contained in the multicastpacket. In other words, a plurality of routes can be set up in multicastcommunications and multicast communications themselves can be executedin parallel based on multicast IDs that are indexed.

According to this exemplary embodiment, although above-described fourtypes of packets are transmitted and received in the parallel computersystem, other types of packet data can be present. In addition, theformat of packet data (size of packet data, control information, and soforth) is not limited to the example shown in FIG. 2, but can bearbitrary.

Next, with reference to FIG. 3, the structure of network switches 21-1to 21-4 and 22 will be described. Since the structure of each of networkswitches 21-1 to 21-4 and 22 is the same, the structure of networkswitch 21-1 will be exemplified in the following.

As shown in FIG. 3, network switch 21-1 has input buffer sections 201-1to 201-5, output buffer sections 202-1 to 202-5, cross bar switchsection 203, cross bar control section 204, and multicast controlsection 205.

Cross bar switch section 203 and multicast control section 205 each havea plurality of input ports and a plurality of output ports. The numberof input ports and the number of output ports can be arbitrary. In thisexemplary description, cross bar switch section 203 and multicastcontrol section 205 of each of network switches 21-1 to 21-4 and 22 havefive input ports and five output ports (hereinafter referred to as5-input, 5-output).

In this exemplary embodiment, the case in which input ports and outputports of each of network switches 21-1 to 21-4 and 22 are correlated,and in which the input ports are assigned numbers 1 to 5, and the outputports are assigned numbers 1 to 5, will be exemplified. For instance,the first input port is correlated with the first output port. Themethod that correlates input ports with output ports can be an ordinarymethod.

In the example shown in FIG. 1, the first to fourth input ports of fiveinput ports of each of network switches 21-1 to 21-4 and 22 areconnected in the upstream direction (in the direction from networkswitches 21-1 to 21-4 to network switch 22) shown in FIG. 1. Incontrast, the first to fourth output ports of five output ports of eachof network switches 21-1 to 21-4 and 22 are connected in the downstreamdirection (in the direction from network switch 22 to network switches21-1 to 21-4) shown in FIG. 1. On the other hand, the fifth input portand the fifth output port of network switch 22 are unused. In contrast,the fifth input port of each of network switches 21-1 to 21-4 isconnected in the downstream direction shown in FIG. 1. Likewise, thefifth output port of each of network switches 21-1 to 21-4 is connectedin the upstream direction shown in FIG. 1.

According to this exemplary embodiment, input buffer sections 201-1 to201-5 are connected to input ports I1 to I5 of multicast control section205 shown in FIG. 4, respectively.

According to this exemplary embodiment, input buffer sections 201-1 to201-5 are connected to five input ports (not shown) of cross bar switchsection 203 and five input ports (not shown) of cross bar controlsection 204, respectively.

When a packet is transmitted from the outside to input buffer sections201-1 to 201-5, they identify whether the packet is a unicast packet, aroute setup command, a setup completion notification, or a multicastpacket based on the command information contained in the packet. Inputbuffer sections 201-1 to 201-5 output the packet transmitted from theoutside to cross bar switch section 203 or multicast control section 205depending on the identified packet type.

More specifically, when input buffer sections 201-1 to 201-5 identifythe packet transmitted from the outside as a unicast packet, they outputthe unicast packet to cross bar switch section 203.

When input buffer sections 201-1 to 201-5 identify the packettransmitted from the outside as either a route setup command, a setupcompletion notification, or a multicast packet, they output theidentified packet (either a route setup command, a setup completionnotification, or a multicast packet) to multicast control section 205.

According to this exemplary embodiment, output buffer sections 202-1 to202-5 are connected to output ports O1 to O5 of multicast controlsection 205 shown in FIG. 4, respectively.

In addition, according to this exemplary embodiment, output buffersections 202-1 to 202-5 are connected to five output ports (not shown)of cross bar switch section 203, respectively.

When a unicast packet is output from output ports (not shown) of crossbar switch section 203 connected to output buffer sections 202-1 to202-5, they output the unicast packet to network switch 22 andcomputation nodes 11-1 to 11-4 connected to output buffer sections 202-1to 202-5.

When a route setup command, a setup completion notification, or amulticast packet is output from output ports O1 to O5 of multicastcontrol section 205 connected to output buffer sections 202-1 to 202-5,respectively, output buffer sections 202-1 to 202-5 output the routesetup command, the setup completion notification, or the multicastpacket to network switch 22 and computation nodes 11-1 to 11-4 connectedto output buffer sections 202-1 to 202-5.

Cross bar switch section 203 outputs the unicast packet that is outputfrom input buffer sections 201-1 to 201-5 to output buffer sections202-1 to 202-5 concerning which cross bar switch section 203 has beennotified by cross bar control section 204.

Cross bar control section 204 identifies output buffer sections 202-1 to202-5 connected to a transmission destination represented by destinationinformation contained in the unicast packet that is output from inputbuffer sections 201-1 to 201-5 and notifies cross bar switch section 203of an output buffer to which the unicast packet is to be output.

Multicast control section 205 outputs the multicast packet that isoutput from input buffer sections 201-1 to 201-5 from an output portthat has been set up for the multicast packet. At this point, multicastcontrol section 205 does not output the multicast packet from an outputport correlated with an input port connected to an input buffer sectionthat has output the multicast packet.

In the following, with reference to FIG. 4, the structure of multicastcontrol section 205 will be described in detail. As shown in FIG. 4,multicast control section 205 has packet input section 301, packetoutput section 302, process count storing section 303, counter section304, information management section 305, comparison section 306,completion notification generation section 307, destinationdetermination section 308, and correction section 309.

Packet input section 301 outputs packet data (either a multicast packet,a route setup command, or a setup completion notification) that areoutput from input buffer sections 201-1 to 201-5 that are connected toinput ports I1 to I5, respectively, to packet output section 302.

In addition, packet input section 301 identifies the packet data as amulticast packet, a route setup command, or a setup completionnotification based on the command information contained in the packetdata that are output from input buffer sections 201-1 to 201-5.

First, the operation in the case in which packet input section 301identifies packet data that are output from input buffer sections 201-1to 201-5 as a route setup command will be described.

In this case, packet input section 301 outputs destination informationcontained in the route setup command that is output from input buffersections 201-1 to 201-5 to destination determination section 308.

In addition, packet input section 301 outputs a multicast ID and a groupmember process count contained in the route setup command to processcount storing section 303.

In addition, packet input section 301 outputs the multicast ID containedin the route setup command to counter section 304.

In addition, packet input section 301 outputs command information “01”and the multicast ID contained in the route setup command andinformation that represents an input port that has input the route setupcommand to information management section 305.

In addition, packet input section 301 outputs the multicast ID containedin the route setup command to completion notification generation section307.

Next, the operation in the case in which packet input section 301identifies packet data that are output from input buffer sections 201-1to 201-5 as a setup completion notification will be described.

In this case, packet input section 301 outputs a multicast ID containedin the setup completion notification that is output from input buffersections 201-1 to 201-5 and information that represents an input portthat has input the setup completion notification to correction section309.

In addition, packet input section 301 outputs the multicast ID containedin the setup completion notification to process count storing section303.

In addition, packet input section 301 outputs command information “10”and the multicast ID contained in the setup completion notification tocounter section 304.

In addition, packet input section 301 outputs the multicast ID containedin the setup completion notification to completion notificationgeneration section 307.

Next, the operation in the case in which packet input section 301identifies packet data that are output from input buffer sections 201-1to 201-5 as a multicast packet will be described.

In this case, packet input section 301 outputs command information “11”and a multicast ID contained in the multicast packet that is output frominput buffer sections 201-1 to 201-5 to information management section305.

In addition, packet input section 301 outputs information thatrepresents an input port that has input the multicast packet to packetoutput section 302.

Packet output section 302 outputs the multicast packet that is outputfrom packet input section 301 from output ports O1 to O5 connected tooutput buffer sections 202-1 to 202-5, respectively, based on multicastcontrol information 3051 that represents an output port that outputs themulticast packet and that has been output from information managementsection 305.

More specifically, packet output section 302 outputs the multicastpacket that is output from packet input section 301 from an output portcorresponding to a bit that has been set to “1” of a bit sequence thatis output from information management section 305. At this point, packetoutput section 302 does not output the multicast packet from an outputport correlated with an input port that is represented by theinformation that is output from packet input section 301 and that hasinput the multicast packet.

In addition, packet output section 302 outputs the route setup commandto an output port connected to a network switch that has been assignedswitch identification information that is the same as the destinationinformation concerning which packet output section 302 is notified byinformation management section 305.

In addition, packet output section 302 outputs the setup completionnotification that is output from completion notification generationsection 307 to output buffer sections 202-1 to 202-5 based on multicastcontrol information 3051 that represents an output port that outputs themulticast packet and that has been output from information managementsection 305. In other words, packet output section 302 transmits thesetup completion notification to the destination through an output portthat is the same as an output port that outputs the multicast packet.

More specifically, packet output section 302 outputs the setupcompletion notification that is output from packet input section 301 toan output port corresponding to a bit that has been set to “1” of a bitsequence that is output from information management section 305.

Process count storing section 303 is a register group that correlativelystores the multicast ID that is output from packet input section 301 andthe group member process count.

In addition, when process count storing section 303 is notified bydestination determination section 308 that the destination of the routesetup command is network switch 21-1, process count storing section 303outputs the group member process count stored in correlation with themulticast ID that is output from packet input section 301 to comparisonsection 306.

In addition, when a multicast ID is output from packet input section 301to process count storing section 303, it outputs a group member processcount stored in correlation with the multicast ID to comparison section306.

Counter section 304 obtains the setup completion process count andcorrelatively stores the obtained setup completion process count and themulticast ID that is output from packet input section 301.

In this instance, the setup completion process count is the “number ofprocesses that information management section 305 has set up forcommunication routes” according to one route setup command that onecomputation node generates.

According to this exemplary embodiment, whenever counter section 304 isnotified by information management section 305 that it has set up a bit,counter section 304 adds “1” to the setup completion process countstored in correlation with a multicast ID that is output from packetinput section 301. The setup completion process count that is stored incounter section 304 is “0” unless an output port that outputs amulticast packet has been set up.

In addition, when counter section 304 is notified by destinationdetermination section 308 that the designation of the route setupcommand is network switch 21-1, counter section 304 outputs the setupcompletion process count stored in correlation with the multicast IDthat is output from packet input section 301 to comparison section 306.

In addition, when the command information “10” and the multicast ID areoutput form packet input section 301 to counter section 304, it outputsthe command information “10” and the setup completion process countstored in correlation with the multicast ID to comparison section 306.

Information management section 305 stores multicast control information3051.

Multicast control information 3051 is information that designates anoutput port that has been set up for a communication route for multicastcommunications and that outputs a multicast packet.

As shown in FIG. 5, according to this exemplary embodiment, multicastcontrol information 3051 correlatively stores 16 five-bit sequences B0to B15 and multicast IDs “0” to “15”.

In addition, according to this exemplary embodiment, five bits containedin each of bit sequences B0 to B15 are correlated with output ports O1to O5, respectively.

In addition, according to this exemplary embodiment, informationmanagement section 305 sets a bit corresponding to an output port thatoutputs a multicast packet of each of bit sequences B0 to B15 to “1”that represents an output port that outputs a multicast packet.

In addition, information management section 305 sets bits correspondingto output gates that do not output multicast packets of each of bitsequences B0 to B15 to “0” that represents ports that do not outputmulticast packets.

In the example of bit sequence B0 shown in FIG. 5, output port O1corresponding to the leftmost bit, Which is the most significant bit, ofbit sequence B0 is set up for an output port that outputs a multicastpacket.

The data structure of multicast control information 3051 can bearbitrary instead of a bit sequence having bits corresponding to outputports O1 to O5 of multicast control section 205.

When command information “01” that represents a route setup command, amulticast ID, and information that represents an input port that hasinput a route setup command are output from packet input section 301 toinformation management section 305, it operates as follows.

First, information management section 305 reads bit sequences B0 to B15stored in correlation with the multicast ID that is output from packetinput section 301. If the multicast ID that is output from packet inputsection 301 is “4,” information management section 305 reads bitsequence B4 stored in correlation with the multicast ID “4.”

Next, when information that represents one input port that has input oneroute setup command is output from packet input section 301, informationmanagement section 305 sets the value of a bit corresponding to anoutput port correlated with the input port of the bit sequence that hasbeen read to “1.” Whenever information management section 305 sets up abit, information management section 305 notifies counter section 304about that.

In addition, according to this exemplary embodiment, informationmanagement section 305 correlatively stores destination information andoutput ports connected to network switches that have been assignedswitch identification information that is the same as destinationinformation.

When information management section 305 is notified by destinationdetermination section 308 that the destination of the route setupcommand is not network switch 21-1, information management section 305sets the value of a bit corresponding to an output port stored incorrelation with switch identification information that is the same asthe destination information concerning which information managementsection 305 has been notified by destination determination section 308to “1.” In addition, information management section 305 notifies packetoutput section 302 of the output port that has been set to “1” (namely,an output port connected to a network switch that has been assignedswitch identification information that is the same as the destinationinformation).

When information management section 305 is notified by destinationdetermination section 308 that the destination of the route setupcommand is network switch 21-1, it does not transfer the route setupcommand to other network switches 21-2 to 21-4 and 22. Thus, in thiscase, information management section 305 does not set the value of thebit corresponding to the output port stored in correlation with theswitch identification information that is the same as the destinationinformation concerning which information management section 305 has beennotified by destination determination section 308 to “1.”

On the other hand, when command information “10” that represents' asetup completion notification and a multicast ID are output from packetinput section 301 to information management section 305, it outputs abit sequence stored in correlation with the multicast ID of bitsequences B0 to B15 to packet output section 302.

In addition, when information management section 305 is notified bycompletion notification generation section 307 that a setup completionnotification has been generated, information management section 305outputs a bit sequence stored in correlation with the multicast ID thatis output from completion notification generation section 307 to packetoutput section 302.

In contrast, when command information “11” that represents a multicastpacket and a multicast ID are output from packet input section 301 toinformation management section 305, it outputs a bit sequence stored incorrelation with the multicast ID of bit sequences B0 to B15 to packetoutput section 302.

Comparison section 306 compares the group member process count that isoutput from process count storing section 303 with the setup completionprocess count that is output from counter section 304. Thereafter,comparison section 306 outputs the compared result to completionnotification generation section 307.

When the command information “10” is output from counter section 304 tocomparison section 306, it compares the group member process count thatis output from process count storing section 303 with the setupcompletion process count that is output from counter section 304.Thereafter, comparison section 306 outputs the compared result tocorrection section 309.

When the compared result by comparison section 306 denotes that thegroup member process count is the same as the setup completion processcount, completion notification generation section 307 generates a setupcompletion notification that denotes that an output port that outputs amulticast packet has been set up and that designates a computation nodethat is the transmission source of the route setup command as thedestination. Then, completion notification generation section 307 writesthe multicast ID that is output from packet input section 301 to thesetup completion notification. Thereafter, completion notificationgeneration section 307 outputs the setup completion notification topacket output section 302.

When completion notification generation section 307 has generated thesetup completion notification, completion notification generationsection 307 notifies information management section 305 about that andoutputs the multicast ID that has been written to the setup completionnotification to information management section 305.

Packet output section 302 outputs the setup completion notification thatis output from completion notification generation section 307 fromoutput ports O1 to O5 corresponding to a bit that has been set to “1” ofthe bit sequence that is output from information management section 305.

Destination determination section 308 has stored switch identificationinformation assigned to network switch 21-1. Destination determinationsection 308 compares destination information that is output from packetinput section 301 with the stored switch identification information.

When the compared result denotes that the destination information is thesame as the stored switch identification information, destinationdetermination section 308 notifies process count storing section 303,counter section 304, and information management section 305 that thedestination of the route setup command is network switch 21-1.

In contrast, when the compared result denotes that the destinationinformation is different from the stored switch identificationinformation, destination determination section 308 notifies informationmanagement section 305 that the destination of the route setup commandis not network switch 21-1 and of provides notification of thedestination information.

When the compared result by comparison section 306 denotes that thegroup member process count is the same as the setup completion processcount, correction section 309 reads a bit sequence stored in correlationwith the multicast ID that is output from packet input section 301 frominformation management section 305. Then, correction section 309 changesthe value of a bit corresponding to an output port correlated with theinput port that has input the setup completion notification of the bitsequence that has been read from “1” to “0”.

For example, when the setup completion notification transmitted fromnetwork switch 22 is input to input port I5 of network switch 21-1,correction section 309 changes the value of the fifth bit correspondingto output port O5 that is correlated with input port I5 of a bitsequence of multicast control information 3051 stored in correlationwith the multicast ID contained in the computation node from “1” to “0.”

When the output port that outputs the multicast packet has been set up,if the group member process count stored in a network switch that is nota multicast control switch is the same as the setup completion processcount, it is equivalent to the case in which route setup commands thatwere transmitted from all computation nodes contained in a particularprocess group have reached not only the multicast control switch butalso the network switch.

In this case, multicast communications can be performed among processescontained in the process group not through a multicast control switch.From such a point of view, correction section 309 changes the value of abit corresponding to an output port that transfers a multicast packet tothe multicast control switch of a bit sequence corresponding to themulticast ID assigned to the process group to “0.”

Next, with reference to FIG. 6, the operation in the case in whichnetwork switches 21-1 to 21-4 and 22 that have the above-describedstructure perform when they receives a route setup command and a routesetup completion notification that are command packets that set up aroute will be described. In the following description, it is assumedthat computation nodes, in which processes contained in a particularprocess group each transmit a route setup command that containsdestination information that is the same as switch identificationinformation assigned to network switch 22 that is a multicast controlswitch to network switches 21-1 to 21-4 to which these computation nodesare connected.

When a network switch receives a route setup command, an input buffersection connected to a computation node that has transmitted the routesetup command of input buffer sections 201-1 to 201-5 outputs the routesetup command to packet input section 301.

Then, packet input section 301 determines whether or not a packet thatis output from input buffer sections 201-1 to 201-5 is a route setupcommand at step 401 shown in FIG. 6.

When packet input section 301 determined that the received command is aroute setup command at step 401, packet input section 301 outputs theroute setup command that is output from input buffer sections 201-1 to201-5 to packet output section 302 at step 402.

In addition, packet input section 301 identifies packet data that areoutput from the input buffer section as a route setup command.Thereafter, packet input section 301 outputs destination informationcontained in the route setup command to destination determinationsection 308.

In addition, packet input section 301 outputs a multicast ID and a groupmember process count contained in the route setup command to processcount storing section 303. Then, process count storing section 303correlatively stores the multicast ID and the group member process countthat are output from packet input section 301.

In addition, packet input section 301 outputs the multicast ID containedin the route setup command to counter section 304.

In addition, packet input section 301 outputs command information “01,”a multicast ID contained in the route setup command transmitted frominput buffer sections 201-1 to 201-5, and information that represents aninput port that has input the route setup command to informationmanagement section 305.

In addition, packet input section 301 outputs the multicast ID containedin the route setup command to completion notification generation section307.

Thereafter, destination determination section 308 compares thedestination information that is output from packet input section 301with the stored switch identification information at step 403.

When the compared result denotes that the destination information isdifferent from the stored switch identification information, destinationdetermination section 308 notifies information management section 305 ofthe destination information and that the destination of the route setupcommand is not network switch 21-1.

Then, information management section 305 designates bit sequence B0 toB15 stored in correlation with the multicast ID that is output frompacket input section 301 at step 404. Thereafter, information managementsection 305 sets the value of the bit corresponding to an output portcorrelated with the input port that has output one route setup commandrepresented by information that is output from packet input section 301of the designated bit sequence to “1.” Whenever information managementsection 305 sets up a bit, information management section 305 notifiescounter section 304 about that. Whenever counter section 304 is notifiedby information management section 305 that it has set up a bit, countersection 304 adds “1” to the setup completion process count stored incorrelation with the multicast ID that is output from packet inputsection 301.

In addition, information management section 305 sets the value of thebit corresponding to an output port stored in correlation with theswitch identification information that is the same as the destinationinformation concerning which information management section 305 has beennotified by destination determination section 308 to “1” at step 404.Thereafter, information management section 305 notifies packet outputsection 302 of the output port that has been set to “1” (namely, theoutput portion connected to the network switch assigned the switchidentification information that is the same as the destinationinformation).

Then, packet output section 302 outputs the route setup command from theoutput port concerning which packet output section 302 has been notifiedby information management section 305 at step 405.

Thereafter, network switch 21-1 waits for a command, namely a routesetup command or a route setup completion notification.

In contrast, when the compared result denotes that the destinationinformation is the same as the stored switch identification informationat step 406, destination determination section 308 notifies processcount storing section 303, counter section 304, and informationmanagement section 305 that the destination of the route setup commandis network switch 21-1.

Then, information management section 305 designates bit sequence B0 toB15 stored in correlation with the multicast ID that is output frompacket input section 301 at step 406. Then, information managementsection 305 sets the value of the bit corresponding to one output portthat is correlated with one input port and that has output one routesetup command represented by information that is output from packetinput section 301 to “1” at step 406. Then, whenever informationmanagement section 305 sets up a bit, information management section 305notifies counter section 304 about that.

Then, whenever counter section 304 is notified by information managementsection 305 that it has set up a bit, counter section 304 adds “1” tothe setup completion process count stored in correlation with themulticast ID that is output from packet input section 301 at step 407.When counter section 304 is notified by destination determinationsection 308 that the destination of the route setup command is networkswitch 21-1, counter section 304 outputs the stored setup completionprocess count to comparison section 306.

When process count storing section 303 is notified by destinationdetermination section 308 that the destination of the route setupcommand is the network switch, process count storing section 303 outputsthe group member process count stored in correlation with the multicastID that is output from packet input section 301 to comparison section306.

Then, comparison section 306 compares the group member process countthat is output from process count storing section 303 with the setupcompletion process count that is output from counter section 304 andoutputs the compared result to information management section 305 andcompletion notification generation section 307 at step 408.

When the compared result denotes that the group member process count isnot the same as the setup completion process count, since route setupcommands have not arrived from all processes contained in the processgroup that execute multicast communications, a route setup commandwaiting state takes place.

In contrast, when the compared result denotes that the group memberprocess count is the same as the setup completion process count, it isequivalent to the case that route setup commands have arrived from allprocesses contained in the process group in which execute multicastcommunications.

Thus, completion notification generation section 307 generates a setupcompletion notification that denotes that an output port that outputs amulticast packet to the process group has been set up and outputs thesetup completion notification to packet output section 302 at step 409.At this point, completion notification generation section 307 writes themulticast ID that is output from packet input section 301 to the setupcompletion notification.

When the completion notification generation section 307 has generatedthe setup completion notification, completion notification generationsection 307 notifies information management section 305 about that andoutputs the multicast ID written in the setup completion notification toinformation management section 305. Then, information management section305 outputs a bit sequence stored in correlation with the multicast IDthat is output from completion notification generation section 307 topacket output section 302.

Then, packet output section 302 outputs the setup completionnotification generated by completion notification generation section 307from output ports O1 to O5 corresponding to the bit that has been set to“1” of the bit sequence that is output from information managementsection 305. Thus, the setup completion notifications are transmitted tocomputation nodes in which processes contained in the process groupoperate.

Next, the case in which network switch 21-1 receives a route setupcompletion notification will be described.

An input buffer section connected to a multicast control switch (in thisexample, network switch 22) that has transmitted a setup completionnotification of input buffer sections 201-1 to 201-5 outputs the setupcompletion notification to packet input section 301.

Then, packet input section 301 identifies packet data that are outputfrom input buffer sections 201-1 to 201-5 as a setup completionnotification at step 401.

In this case, packet input section 301 outputs a multicast ID containedin the setup completion notification that is input from input buffersections 201-1 to 201-5 and information that represents an input portthat has input the setup completion notification to correction section309 at step 410.

In addition, packet input section 301 outputs the multicast ID containedin the setup completion notification to process count storing section303. Then, process count storing section 303 outputs a group memberprocess count stored in correlation with the multicast ID to comparisonsection 306.

In addition, packet input section 301 outputs command information “10”and the multicast ID contained in the setup completion notification tocounter section 304. Then, counter section 304 outputs the commandinformation “10” and the setup completion process count stored incorrelation with the multicast ID to comparison section 306.

When the command information “10” is output from counter section 304 tocomparison section 306, it compares the group member process count thatis output from process count storing section 303 with the setupcompletion process count that is output form counter section 304 at step411. Then, comparison section 306 outputs the compared result tocorrection section 309.

When the compared result denotes that the group member process count isthe same as the setup completion process count, correction section 309reads a bit sequence stored in correlation with the multicast ID that isoutput from packet input section 301 from information management section305 at step 412. Then, correction section 309 changes the value of a bitcorresponding to an output port that is correlated with the input portthat has input the setup completion notification represented byinformation received from packet input section 301 from “1” to “0.”

Next, operation of the parallel computer system having theabove-described structure will be described.

First, with reference to FIG. 7, the operation of the parallel computersystem that sets up a transfer route of a multicast packet will bedescribed. Here, the operations of computation node 11-1, network switch21-1, and network switch 22 will be exemplified.

In the following description, it is assumed that a computation node inwhich each process contained in one process group operates has stored amulticast ID of the process group, destination information that is thesame as switch identification information of network switch 22 thatcontrols a multicast packet transmitted and received among computationnodes of the process group, and a group member process count that is thenumber of computation nodes in which individual processes contained inthe process group operate.

Each computation node in which each process contained in one processgroup operates generates a route setup command and transmits it tonetwork switches 21-1 to 21-4 connected to the computation node at step501 shown in FIG. 7.

In this example, computation node 11-1 generates a route setup commandthat contains a stored multicast ID, destination information, and agroup member process count and transmits the route setup command tonetwork switch 21-1. Network switch 22 assigned switch identificationinformation that is the same as the destination information contained inthe route setup command is the destination of the route setup command.

Then, network switch 21-1 receives the route setup command transmittedfrom computation node 11-1 at step 502. Then, network switch 21-1correlatively stores the multicast ID and the group member process countcontained in the route setup command.

Then, network switch 21-1 designates bit sequence B0 to 15 stored incorrelation with the multicast ID contained in the route setup commandat step 503. Then, network switch 21-1 sets the value of one bitcorresponding to an output port correlated with an input port that hasinput the route setup command of the designated bit sequence to “1.”

Whenever network switch 21-1 sets up a bit, network switch 21-1 adds “1”to the setup completion process count stored in correlation with themulticast ID contained in the route setup command.

In addition, network switch 21-1 compares the destination informationcontained in the route setup command with the switch identificationinformation assigned to and stored in network switch 21-1.

Since the compared result denotes that the destination information isdifferent from the stored switch identification information, networkswitch 21-1 sets the value of a bit corresponding to an output portstored in correlation with switch identification information that is thesame as the destination information contained in the route setup commandof the designated bit sequence to “1” at step 503.

Thereafter, network switch 21-1 outputs the route setup command from anoutput port stored in correlation with the switch identificationinformation that is the same as the destination information (namely, anoutput port connected to network switch 22 assigned the switchidentification information that is the same as the destinationinformation) at step 504. Thus, network switch 21-1 transfers the routesetup command transmitted from computation node 11-1 to network switch22.

Then, network switch 22 receives the route setup command transferredfrom network switch 21-1 at step 505.

Then, network switch 22 correlatively stores the multicast ID and thegroup member process count contained in the route setup command.

Then, network switch 22 designates a bit sequence stored in correlationwith the multicast ID contained in the route setup command of bitsequences B0 to B15 at step 506. Then, network switch 22 sets the valueof one bit corresponding to an output port correlated with the inputport that has input the route setup command of the designated bitsequence to “1.”

Whenever network switch 22 sets up a bit, network switch 22 adds “1” tothe setup completion process count stored in correlation with themulticast ID contained in the route setup command.

Next, network switch 22 compares the destination information containedin the route setup command with the switch identification informationassigned to and stored in network switch 22.

Since the compared result denotes that the destination information isthe same as the stored switch identification information, network switch22 compares the setup completion process count with the group memberprocess count.

When the compared result denotes that the group member process count isthe same as the setup completion process count, network switch 22generates a setup completion notification that denotes an output portthat outputs a multicast packet to the process group assigned themulticast ID contained in the route setup command at step 507. Accordingto this exemplary embodiment, at this point, network switch 22 writesthe multicast ID of the process group that has been set tip to the setupcompletion notification. Then, network switch 22 transmits the setupcompletion notification that designates computation node 11-1 that isthe transmission source of the route setup command as the destination tonetwork switch 21-1. Network switch 22 transmits the setup completionnotification to computation nodes in which processes of the processgroup assigned the multicast ID operate as well as computation node11-1.

Then, network switch 21-1 receives the setup completion notificationtransmitted from network switch 22 at step 508.

Then, network switch 21-1 compares the group member process count storedin correlation with the multicast ID contained in the setup completionnotification with the setup completion process count stored incorrelation with the multicast ID contained in the setup completionnotification.

When the compared result denotes that the group member process count isthe same as the setup completion process count, network switch 21-1reads a bit sequence stored in correlation with the multicast IDcontained in the setup completion notification at step 509. Then,network switch 21-1 changes the value of the bit corresponding to anoutput port correlated with an input port that has input the setupcompletion notification from “1” to “0.”

Network switch 21-1 transfers the setup completion notificationtransmitted from network switch 22 to its destination, computation node11-1, at step 510.

Then, computation node 11-1 receives the setup completion notificationtransferred from network switch 21-1 at step 511. As well as computationnode 11-1, computation nodes in which processes contained in the processgroup assigned the multicast ID contained in the setup completionnotification operate also receive the setup completion notificationtransmitted from network switch 22.

Then, the computation nodes in which the processes contained in theprocess group operate recognize that a multicast control switch has setup an output port that has been designated by a route setup command andthat outputs a multicast packet. Thus, these computation nodes canmutually perform multicast communications. These computation nodestransmit multicast packets when a program instructs them to execute themulticast communications.

Next, two exemplary operations in which a plurality of particularcomputation nodes that have received setup completion notifications andin which processes contained in the same process group operate performmulticast communications will be described.

In the following exemplary description, computation node 11-1 isconnected to input port I1 of multicast control section 205 of networkswitch 21-1, whereas computation node 11-2 is connected to input port I2of multicast control section 205 of network switch 21-1. Likewise,computation node 12-1 is connected to input port I1 of multicast controlsection 205 of network switch 21-2. Likewise, computation node 13-3 isconnected to input port I3 of multicast control section 205 of networkswitch 21-3. Likewise, computation node 14-4 is connected to input nodeI4 of multicast control section 205 of network switch 21-4.

In the following exemplary description, output port O5 of multicastcontrol section 205 of network switch 21-1 is connected to input port I1of multicast control section 205 of network switch 22. Likewise, outputport O5 of multicast control section 205 of network switch 21-2 isconnected to input port I2 of multicast control section 205 of networkswitch 22. Likewise, output port O5 of multicast control section 205 ofnetwork switch 21-3 is connected to input port I3 of multicast controlsection 205 of network switch 22. Likewise, output port O5 of multicastcontrol section 205 of network switch 21-4 is connected to input port I4of multicast control section 205 of network switch 22.

First, a first exemplary operation in which a plurality of particularcomputation nodes perform multicast communications will be described. Inthe first exemplary operation, a process group composed of singleprocesses that operate in computation nodes 11-1, 11-2, 12-1, 13-3, and14-4, (namely, the group member process count is “5”) performs multicastcommunications. In the following, the case in which a multicast IDassigned to this process group is “1” will be exemplified.

First, computation nodes 11-1, 11-2, 12-1, 13-3, and 14-4 respectivelygenerate route setup commands as shown in FIG. 2. In this exemplarydescription, the route setup commands contain a multicast ID (=“1”)assigned to the process group, destination information (=informationthat is the same as switch identification information assigned tonetwork switch 22), and a group member process count (=“5”) thatrepresents the number of processes that are contained in the processgroup and that operate in the computation nodes.

As shown in FIG. 8, computation nodes 11-1 and 11-2 transmit the routesetup commands to network switch 21-1. Likewise, computation node 12-1transmits the route setup command to network switch 21-2. Likewise,computation node 13-3 transmits the route setup command to networkswitch 21-3. Likewise, computation node 14-4 transmits the route setupcommand to network switch 21-4.

Then, network switch 21-1 receives the route setup command transmittedfrom computation node 11-1 and the route setup command transmitted fromcomputation node 11-2. Then, network switch 21-1 correlatively storesthe multicast ID “1” and the group member process count “5” contained ineach route setup command.

In the following, group member process counts stored in network switches21-1 to 21-4 are denoted by P1-1 to P1-4, respectively. Likewise, thegroup member process count stored in network switch 22 is denoted byP2-1.

Network switch 21-1 reads bit sequence B1-1 stored in correlation withthe multicast ID “1” contained in each received route setup command.

Then, network switch 21-1 sets the value of a bit corresponding tooutput port O1 correlated with input port I1 that has input the routesetup command transmitted from computation node 11-1 and the value ofthe bit corresponding to output port O2 correlated with input port I2that has input the route setup command transmitted from computation node11-2 of bit sequence B1-1 to “1.”

Whenever network switch 21-1 sets up the value of a bit according to theroute setup command transmitted from each of computation nodes 11-1 and11-2, network switch 21-1 adds “1” to the stored setup completionprocess count. Network switch 21-1 correlatively stores the setupcompletion process count and the multicast ID (=“1”) contained in theroute setup command received from each of computation nodes 11-1 and11-2.

In this example, network switch 21-1 sets up the value of a bitaccording to the route setup command received from computation node 11-1and the value of a bit according to the route setup command receivedfrom computation node 11-2. Thus, when network switch 21-1 has set upthe values of these bits, the setup completion process count stored innetwork switch 21-1 in correlation with the multicast ID (=“1”)contained in each route setup command is “2.”

In the following, setup completion process counts stored in networkswitches 21-1 to 21-4 are denoted by Q1-1 to Q1-4, respectively.Likewise, the setup completion process count stored in network switch 22is denoted by Q2-1.

Since the destination information contained in each route setup commandis different from switch identification information assigned to andstored in network switch 21-1, it sets the value of a bit correspondingto output port O5 connected to network switch 22 represented by thedestination information of bit sequence B1-1 to “1.”

When the values of the bits of bit sequence B1-1 have been updated, bitsequence B1-1 stored in network switch 21-1 is in the state (=“11001”)as shown in FIG. 8.

Then, network switch 21-1 transfers the route setup command transmittedfrom computation node 11-1 and the route setup command transmitted fromcomputation node 11-2 to network switch 22 represented by thedestination information through output port O5 connected to networkswitch 22 represented by the destination information.

In addition, network switch 21-2 correlatively stores the multicast ID“1” and the group member process count “5” contained in the route setupcommand transmitted from computation node 12-1.

In addition, network switch 21-2 reads bit sequence B1-2 stored incorrelation with the multicast ID “1” contained in the route setupcommand.

Then, network switch 21-2 sets the value of a bit corresponding tooutput port O1 correlated with input port I1 that has input the routesetup command received from computation node 12-1 of bit sequence B1-2to “1.” When this bit has been set up, as shown in FIG. 8, setupcompletion process count Q1-2 stored in correlation with the multicastID (=“1”) contained in the route setup command is “1.”

In addition, since the destination information contained in the routesetup command is different from the switch identification informationassigned to and stored in network switch 21-2, it sets the value of thebit corresponding to output port O5 connected to network switch 22represented by the destination information of bit sequence B1-2 to “1.”

When the values of these bits of bit sequence B1-2 have been updated,bit sequence B1-2 stored in network switch 21-2 is in the state(=“10001”) as shown in FIG. 8. Network switch 21-2 transfers the routesetup command to network switch 22 through output port O5 connected tonetwork switch 22 represented by the destination information.

In addition, network switch 21-3 correlatively stores the multicast ID“1” and group member process count “5” contained in the route setupcommand transmitted from computation node 13-3.

In addition, network switch 21-3 sets the value of a bit correspondingto output port O3 correlated with input port I3 that has input the routesetup command of bit sequence B1-3 stored in correlation with themulticast ID “1” contained in the route setup command to “1.” When thisbit has been set up, as shown in FIG. 8, setup completion process countQ1-3 that is stored in network switch 21-3 in correlation with themulticast ID (=“1”) contained in the route setup command is “1.”

Since the destination information contained in the route setup commandis different from the stored switch identification information, switch21-3 sets the value of the bit corresponding to output port O5 connectedto network switch 22 represented by the destination information of bitsequence B1-3 to “1.”

When the values of these bits of bit sequence B1-3 have been updated,bit sequence B1-3 stored in network switch 21-3 is in the state(=“00101”) as shown in FIG. 8. Network switch 21-3 transfers the routesetup command to network switch 22 through output port O5 connected tonetwork switch 22 represented by the destination information.

In addition, network switch 21-4 correlatively stores the multicast ID“1” and the group member process count “5” contained in the route setupcommand transmitted from computation node 14-4.

In addition, network switch 21-4 sets the value of a bit correspondingto output port O4 correlated with input port I4 that has input the routesetup command of bit sequence B1-4 that is stored in network switch 21-4in correlation with the multicast ID “1” contained in the route setupcommand to “1.” When the bit has been set up as shown in FIG. 8, setupcompletion process count Q1-4 that is stored in network switch 21-4 incorrelation with the multicast ID (=“1”) contained in the route setupcommand is “4.”

In addition, since the destination information contained in the routesetup command is different from the switch identification informationstored in network switch 21-4, it sets the value of a bit correspondingto output port O5 connected to network switch 22 represented by thedestination information of bit sequence B1-4 to “1.”

When the values of these bits of bit sequence B1-4 have been updated,bit sequence B1-4 stored in network switch 21-4 is in the state(=“00011”) as shown in FIG. 8. Then, network switch 21-4 transfers theroute setup command to network switch 22 through output port O5connected to network switch 22 represented by the destinationinformation.

Thereafter, network switch 22 receives the route setup commandstransferred from network switches 21-1 to 21-4. Then, network switch 22correlatively stores the multicast ID “1” and the group member processcount “5” Contained in the route setup command transferred from each ofnetwork switches 21-1 to 21-4.

Then, network switch 22 reads bit sequence B2-1 stored in correlationwith the multicast ID “1” contained in each received route setupcommand.

Then, network switch 22 sets the value of a bit corresponding to outputport O1 correlated with input port I1 that has input the route setupcommand transmitted from computation node 11-1 and transferred throughnetwork switch 21-1 and the route setup command transmitted fromcomputation node 11-2 and transferred through network switch 21-1 of bitsequence B 2-1 to “1.” Whenever network switch 22 sets up the value of abit according to the route setup command transmitted from computationnode 11-1 and the value of a bit according to the route setup commandtransmitted from computation node 11-2, network switch 22 adds “1” tothe setup completion process count.

In addition, network switch 22 sets the value of a bit corresponding tooutput port O2 correlated with input port I2 that has input the routesetup command transmitted from network switch 21-2, the value of the bitcorresponding to output port O3 correlated with input port I3 that hasinput the route setup command transmitted from network switch 21-3, andthe value of the bit corresponding to output port O4 correlated withinput port I4 that has input the route setup command transmitted fromnetwork switch 21-4 of bit sequence B2-1 to “1.”

When the values of these bits of bit sequence B2-1 have been updated,bit sequence B 2-1 stored in network switch 22 is in the state(=“11110”) as shown in FIG. 8. When these bits have been set up, setupcompletion process count Q2-1 stored in network switch 22 in correlationwith the multicast ID (=“1”) contained in each route setup command is“5.”

The destination information contained in each route setup commandreceived by network switch 22 is the same as the switch identificationinformation assigned to and stored in network switch 22. In this case,since network switch 22 does not transfer the route setup commands toother network switches 21-1 to 21-4, network switch 22 does not set thevalue of the bit corresponding to an output port stored in correlationwith the switch identification information that is the same as thedestination information to “1.”

In addition, since the destination information contained in each routesetup command received by network switch 22 is the same as the switchidentification information stored in network switch 22, it comparessetup completion process count Q2-1 with group member process countP2-1.

When the compared result denotes that group member process count P2-1 isthe same as setup completion process count Q2-1, network switch 22generates setup completion notifications that denote that output portsthat output multicast packets to the process group assigned themulticast ID “1” contained in route setup commands have been set up andthat designate computation nodes 11-1, 11-2, 12-1, 13-3, and 14-4 thatare transmission sources of the route setup commands as destinations.According to this exemplary embodiment, network switch 22 writes themulticast ID (=“1”) of the process group that has been set up to thesetup completion notifications.

Then, network switch 22 outputs setup completion notifications to outputports O1 to O4 corresponding to bits that have been set to “1” of bitsequence B 2-1 (=“11110”) that is stored in correlation with themulticast ID “1” written into the setup completion notifications. Thus,the setup completion notifications are transmitted to computation nodesthat have transmitted the route setup commands through the output portsthat have been set up as output ports that output multicast packets.

In this exemplary description, as shown in FIG. 9, network switch 22transmits setup completion notifications that designate computation node11-1 and 11-2 as destinations to network switch 21-1. Likewise, networkswitch 22 transmits a setup completion notification that designatescomputation node 12-1 as a destination to network switch 21-2. Likewise,network switch 22 transmits a setup completion notification thatdesignates computation node 13-3 as a destination to network switch21-3. Likewise, network switch 22 transmits a setup completionnotification that designates computation node 14-4 as a destination tonetwork switch 21-4.

Then, network switches 21-1 to 21-4 respectively receive the setupcompletion notifications transmitted from network switch 22.

Then, network switches 21-1 to 21-4 compare group member process countsP1-1 to P1-4 shown in FIG. 9 and stored in correlation with themulticast ID that is the same as the multicast ID “1” contained in thesetup completion, notifications with setup completion process countsQ1-1 to Q1-4 shown in FIG. 9 and stored in correlation with themulticast ID that is the same as the multicast ID “1” contained in thesetup completion notifications, respectively.

The compared result denotes that group member process counts P1-1 toP1-4 stored in network switches 21-1 to 21-4 are different from setupcompletion process counts Q1-1 to Q1-4 stored in network switches 21-1to 21-4, respectively.

In this case, network switches 21-1 to 21-4 do not change the value of abit corresponding to the output port correlated with the input portsthat have input the setup completion notification of bit sequences B1-1to B1-4 stored in correlation with the multicast ID that is the same asthe multicast ID “1” contained in the setup completion notifications.

Then, network switch 21-1 transfers the setup completion notificationstransmitted from network switch 22 to computation nodes 11-1 and 11-2that are their destinations. Likewise, network switch 21-2 transfers thesetup completion notification transmitted from network switch 22 tocomputation node 12-1 that is its destination. Likewise, network switch21-3 transfers the setup completion notification transmitted fromnetwork switch 22 to computation node 13-3 that is, its destination.Likewise, network switch 21-4 transfers the setup completionnotification transmitted from network switch 22 to computation node 13-4that is its destination.

Then, computation nodes 11-1, 11-2, 12-1, 13-3, and 14-4 receive thesetup completion notifications transferred from network switch 21-1.Then, individual processes contained in the process group that operatein these computation nodes recognize that the multicast control switchhas set up the output ports that output multicast packets requested bythe route setup commands. Thus, computation nodes 11-1, 11-2, 12-1,13-3, and 14-4 can mutually transmit multicast packets. Thesecomputation nodes transmit multicast packets, for example, when aprogram causes them to execute multicast communications.

Next, with reference to FIG. 10, the first exemplary operation in thecase in which computation nodes 11-1, 11-2, 12-1, 13-3, and 14-4 receivesetup completion notifications and then computation node 11-1 transmitsa multicast packet will be described.

As shown in FIG. 10, network switch 21-1 receives a multicast packettransmitted from computation node 11-1. Then, network switch 21-1identifies input port I1 that has input the multicast packet transmittedfrom computation node 11-1.

Then, network switch 21-1 outputs multicast packets to output portsother than the output port correlated with input port I1 that has beenidentified of output ports corresponding to bits that have been set to“1” of bit sequence B1-1 (=“11001”) shown in FIG. 10 and stored incorrelation with the multicast ID (=“1”) contained in the multicastpackets (in this example, output ports O2 and O5). Thus, network switch21-1 transfers the multicast packet transmitted from computation node11-1 to computation node 11-2 connected to output port O2 and networkswitch 22 connected to output port O5.

Thereafter, network switch 22 receives the multicast packet transferredfrom network switch 21-1. Then, network switch 22 identifies input portI1 that has input the multicast packet.

Then, network switch 22 outputs multicast packets to output ports O2,O3, and O4 other than output port O1 correlated with input port I1 thathas been identified of output ports corresponding to bits that have beenset to “1” of bit sequence B1-1 (=“11001”) shown in FIG. 10 and storedin correlation with the multicast ID (=“1”) contained in the multicastpackets. Thus, network switch 22 transfers the multicast packettransmitted from computation node 11-1 to network switch 21-2 connectedto output port O2, network switch 21-3 connected to output port O3, andnetwork switch 21-4 connected to output port O4.

Then, network switch 21-2 receives the multicast packet transferred fromnetwork switch 22 and identifies input port I5 that has input themulticast packet.

Then, network switch 21-2 outputs the multicast packet to output port O1other than output port O5 correlated with input port I5 that has beenidentified of output ports corresponding to bits that have been set to“1” of bit sequence B 1-2 (=“10001”) shown in FIG. 10 and stored incorrelation with the multicast ID (=“1”) contained in the multicastpacket. Thus, network switch 21-2 transfers the multicast packettransmitted from computation node 11-1 to computation node 12-1connected to output port O1.

Likewise, network switch 21-3 receives the multicast packet transferredfrom network switch 22 and identifies input port I5 that has input themulticast packet.

Then, network switch 21-3 outputs the multicast packet to output port O3other than output port O5 correlated with input port I5 that has beenidentified of output ports corresponding to bits that have been set to“1” of bit sequence B1-3 (=“00101”) shown in FIG. 10 and stored incorrelation with the multicast ID (=“1”) contained in the multicastpacket. Thus, network switch 21-3 transfers the multicast packettransmitted from computation node 11-1 to computation node 13-3connected to output port O3.

Likewise, network switch 21-4 receives the multicast packet transferredfrom network switch 22 and identifies input port I5 that has input themulticast packet.

Then, network switch 21-4 outputs the multicast packet to output port O4other than output port O5 correlated with input port I5 that has beenidentified of output ports corresponding to bits that have been set to“1” of bit sequence B 1-4 (=“00011”) shown in FIG. 10 and stored incorrelation with the multicast ID (=“1”) contained in the multicastpacket. Thus, network switch 21-4 transfers the multicast packettransmitted from computation node 11-1 to computation node 14-4connected to output port O4. After computation nodes 11-1, 11-2, 12-1,13-3, and 14-4 respectively have received setup completionnotifications, computation node 11-1 completes a series of operationsthat transmit multicast packets.

Next, a second exemplary operation in which a plurality of particularcomputation nodes perform multicast communications will be described.

In the second exemplary operation, a process group composed of processesthat operate in computation nodes 11-1, 11-2, 11-3, and 11-4 (namely,the group member process count is “4”) performs multicastcommunications.

In other words, in the second exemplary operation, a process groupcomposed of single processes that operate in computation nodes connectedto any one network switch, network switch 21-1, of network switchesother than a multicast control switch performs multicast communications.In the following, a case in which a multicast ID assigned to thisprocess group is “1” will be exemplified.

First, computation nodes 11-1 to 11-4 respectively generate route setupcommands as shown in FIG. 2. In this exemplary description, the routesetup commands contain a multicast ID (=“1”) assigned to the processgroup, destination information (=information that is the same as switchidentification information assigned to network switch 22), and a groupmember process count (=“4”) that represents the number of processes thatare contained in the process group and that operate in the computationnodes.

As shown in FIG. 11, computation nodes 11-1, 11-2, 11-3, and 11-4transmit the route setup commands to network switch 21-1.

Then, network switch 21-1 receives the route setup commands transmittedfrom computation nodes 11-1 to 11-4. Then, network switch 21-1correlatively stores the multicast ID “1” and the group member processcount “5” contained in each route setup command.

In addition, network switch 21-1 reads bit sequence B1-1 stored incorrelation with the multicast ID “1” contained in each received routesetup command.

Then, network switch 21-1 sets the value of the bit corresponding tooutput port O1 correlated with input port I1 that has input the routesetup command transmitted from computation node 11-1, the value of thebit corresponding to output port O2 correlated with input port I2 thathas input the route setup command transmitted from computation node11-2, the value of the bit corresponding to output port O3 correlatedwith input port I3 that has input the route setup command transmittedfrom computation node 11-3, and the value of the bit corresponding tooutput port O4 correlated with input port I4 that has input the routesetup command transmitted from computation node 11-4 of bit sequenceB1-1 to “1.”

Whenever network switch 21-1 sets up the value of a bit according to theroute setup command transmitted from each of computation nodes 11-1,11-2, 11-3, and 11-4, network switch 21-1 adds “1” to stored setupcompletion process count Q1-1. Thus, when network switch 21-1 has set upthe values of these bits, the setup completion process count stored innetwork switch 21-1 in correlation with the multicast ID (=“1”)contained in each route setup command is “4.”

Since the destination information contained in each route setup commandis different from switch identification information assigned to andstored in network switch 21-1, it sets the value of the bitcorresponding to output port O5 connected to network switch 22represented by the destination information of bit sequence B1-1 to “1.”

When the values of the bits of bit sequence B1-1 have been updated, bitsequence B1-1 stored in network switch 21-1 is in the state (=“11111”)as shown in FIG. 11.

Then, network switch 21-1 transfers the route setup command transmittedfrom computation node 11-1, the route setup command transmitted fromcomputation node 11-2, the route setup command transmitted fromcomputation node 11-3, and the route setup command transmitted fromcomputation node 11-4 to network switch 22 represented by thedestination information through output port O5 connected to networkswitch 22 represented by the destination information.

Thereafter, network switch 22 receives the route setup commandstransferred from network switches 21-1 to 21-4. Then, network switch 22correlatively stores the multicast ID “1” and the group member processCount “4” contained in each route setup command transferred from networkswitch 21-1.

Then, network switch 22 reads bit sequence B2-1 stored in correlationwith the multicast ID “1” contained in each received route setupcommand.

Then, network switch 22 sets the value of a bit corresponding to outputport O1 correlated with input port I1 that has input the route setupcommand transmitted from computation node 11-1 and transferred throughnetwork switch 21-1, the route setup command transmitted fromcomputation node 11-2 and transferred through network switch 21-1, theroute setup command transmitted from computation node 11-3 andtransferred through network switch 21-1, and the route setup commandtransmitted from computation node 11-4 and transferred through networkswitch 21-1 of bit sequence B 2-1 to “1.”

Whenever network switch 22 sets up the value of a bit according to theroute setup command transmitted from computation node 11-1, the value ofa bit according to the route setup command transmitted from computationnode 11-2, the value of a bit according to the route setup commandtransmitted from computation node 11-3, and the value of a bit accordingto the route setup command transmitted from computation node 11-4,network switch 22 adds “1” to the setup completion process count.

When the values of these bits of bit sequence B2-1 have been updated,bit sequence B 2-1 stored in network switch 22 is in the state(=“10000”) as shown in FIG. 11. When these bits have been set up, setupcompletion process count Q2-1 stored in network switch 22 in correlationwith the multicast ID (=“1”) contained in each route setup command is“4”

The destination information contained in each route setup commandreceived by network switch 22 is the same as the switch identificationinformation assigned to and stored in network switch 22. In this case,since network switch 22 does not transfer the route setup commands toother network switches 21-1 to 21-4, network switch 22 does not set thevalue of a bit corresponding to an output port stored in correlationwith the switch identification information that is the same as thedestination information to “1.”

In addition, since the destination information contained in eachreceived route setup command is the same as the stored switchidentification information, network switch 22 compares setup completionprocess count Q2-1 with group member process count P2-1.

When the compared result denotes that group member process count P2-1 isthe same as setup completion process count Q2-1, network switch 22generates setup completion notifications that denote that output portsthat output multicast packets to the process group assigned themulticast ID “1” contained in route setup commands have been set up andthat designate computation nodes 11-1 to 11-4 that are transmissionsources of the route setup commands as destinations. According to thisexemplary embodiment, network switch 22 writes the multicast ID (=“1”)of the process group that has been set up into the setup completionnotifications.

Then, as shown in FIG. 12, network switch 22 transmits setup completionnotifications that designate computation nodes 11-1, 11-2, 11-3, and11-4 as destinations to network switch 21-1.

Then, network switch 21-1 receives setup completion notificationstransmitted from network switch 22.

Then, network switch 21-1 compares group member process count P-1 (=“4”)shown in FIG. 12 and stored in correlation with the multicast ID “1”contained in each setup completion notification with setup completionprocess count Q1-1 (=“4”) shown in FIG. 12 and stored in correlationwith the multicast ID “1” contained in each setup completionnotification.

The compared result denotes that group member process count P1-1 storedin network switch 21-1 is the same as setup completion process countQ1-1 stored in network switch 21-1.

Thus, network switch 21-1 reads bit sequence B1-1 (=“11111”) stored incorrelation with the multicast ID “1” contained in each setup completionnotification. Then, network switch 21-1 changes the value of the fifthleftmost bit corresponding to output port O5 correlated with input portI5 that has input the setup completion notification transmitted fromnetwork switch 22 of bit sequence B 1-1 from “1” to “0.” When networkswitch 21-1 has set up this bit, bit sequence B1-1 stored in networkswitch 21-1 is in the state (“11110”) shown in FIG. 12.

Then, network switch 21-1 transfers the setup completion notificationstransmitted from network switch 22 to computation nodes 11-1 and 11-4that are their destinations.

Then, computation nodes 11-1 to 11-4 receive the setup completionnotifications transferred from network switch 21-1. Then, individualprocesses contained in the process group that operate in thesecomputation nodes recognize that the multicast control switch has set upoutput ports that output multicast packets requested by the route setupcommands. Thus, computation nodes 11-1 to 11-4 can mutually transmitmulticast packets.

Next, with reference to FIG. 13, the second exemplary operation in thecase in which computation nodes 11-1 to 11-4 receive setup completionnotifications and then computation node 11-1 transmits a multicastpacket will be described.

As shown in FIG. 13, network switch 21-1 receives a multicast packettransmitted from computation node 11-1. Then, network switch 21-1identifies input port I1 that has input the multicast packet transmittedfrom computation node 11-1.

Then, network switch 21-1 outputs multicast packets to output portsother than the output port correlated with input port I1 that has beenidentified of output ports corresponding to bits that have been set to“1” of bit sequence B1-1 (=“11110”) shown in FIG. 13 and stored incorrelation with the multicast ID (=“1”) contained in the multicastpackets (in this example, output ports O2, O3, and O4).

Thus, network switch 21-1 transfers the multicast packets transmittedfrom computation node 11-1 to computation node 11-2 connected to outputport O2, computation node 11-3 connected to output port O3, andcomputation node 11-4 connected to output port O4.

As described above, the parallel computer system according to thepresent invention can suppress the total number of multicast packetstransmitted over mutual connection network 2. For example, the amount ofcommunication packets for which multicast communications are performedaccording to the present invention shown in FIG. 12 is smaller than theamount of communication packets for which multicast communications areperformed over the tree structure network shown in FIG. 14.

In addition, as presented in the second exemplary operation, theparallel computer system according to the present invention can preventmulticast packets from being transmitted through an unnecessary networkswitch and thereby the latency of multicast communications can besuppressed.

In addition, the parallel computer system according to the presentinvention can set up a destination and a communication route overmulticast communications at high speed without necessity of graspingphysical locations of computation nodes connected to mutual connectionnetwork 2.

In addition, the parallel computer system according to the presentinvention allows multicast packets to contain only a multicast ID alongwith multicast data. In other words, multicast packets do not need tocontain destination information and other control information andthereby can prevent their header size from becoming large.

Besides the above-described dedicated hardware that accomplishes theprocesses of network switch 21-1, they may be accomplished in such amanner that a program that accomplishes the functions is recorded to arecording medium in which a computer that operates as network switch21-1 can read, the computer is caused to read the program from therecording medium, and then the program is executed. Examples of therecording mediums readable by the computer that operates as networkswitch 21-1 include removable recording mediums, such as a floppy disk(registered trademark), a magneto-optical disc, a DVD, and a CD, and acomputer with a build-in HDD. The program recorded to the recordingmedium is read by, for example, a processor that operates as multicastcontrol section 205 with which the computer that operates as networkswitch 21-1 is provided and the same processes as those described aboveare performed under the control of the processor.

The processor that operates as multicast control section 205 executesthe program read from the recording medium. Likewise, the abovedescribed program can be applied to each of network switches 21-2 to21-4, and 22.

Now, with reference to the exemplary embodiments, the present inventionhas been described. However, it should be understood by those skilled inthe art that the structure and details of the present invention may bechanged in various manners without departing from the sprit of thepresent invention.

The present application claims a priority based on Japan PatentApplication JP 2009-109587 filed on Apr. 28, 2009, the entire contentsof which are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   -   1 Computation node group    -   1-1 to 11-4, 12-1 to 12-4, 13-1 to 13-4, 14-1 to 14-4        Computation node    -   2 Mutual connection network    -   21-1 to 12-4, 22 Computation node    -   201-1 to 201-5 Input buffer section    -   202-1 to 202-5 Output buffer sections    -   203 Cross bar switch section    -   204 Cross bar control section    -   205 Multicast control section    -   301 Packet input section    -   302 Packet output section    -   303 Process count storing section    -   304 Counter section    -   305 Information management section    -   306 Comparison section    -   307 Completion notification generation section    -   308 Destination determination section    -   309 Correction section    -   3051 Multicast control information

1. A network switch that has a plurality of input ports and a pluralityof output ports correlated with the input ports and that outputsmulticast packets from said output ports, comprising: a multicastcontrol information storing section that stores multicast controlinformation that is information that designates an output port thatoutputs said multicast packet from said plurality of output ports; and amulticast control section that causes said multicast control informationstoring section to set up a transfer route for transferring saidmulticast packet, wherein said multicast control section designates anoutput port correlated with an input port that has received a routesetup command that causes the network switch to set up a transfer routeand an output port that outputs the route setup command as output portsthat transfer said multicast packet such that the route setup commandreaches a destination designated by the route setup command when themulticast control section receives the route setup command and themulticast control section outputs the multicast packets to output portsother than the output port correlated with the input port that hasreceived the multicast packet of the output ports designated by themulticast control information stored in said multicast controlinformation storing section when said multicast control section receivesthe multicast packet.
 2. The network switch as set forth in claim 1,comprising: a completion notification generation section that generatesa route setup completion notification that denotes that a route has beenset up; and a destination match determination section that determineswhether or not a destination represented by destination informationcontained in said route setup command matches the network switch thathas input the route setup command when the route setup command is inputto said input port, wherein when said destination match determinationsection determines that the destination matches the network switch,after the route has been set, said completion notification generationsection generates said route setup completion notification, and outputsthe generated route setup completion notification to an output portdesignated by multicast control information stored in said multicastcontrol information storing section.
 3. The network switch as set forthin claim 2, wherein the route setup completion notifications are outputto output ports other than the output port correlated with the inputport that has received the route setup completion notification of theoutput ports designated by the multicast control information stored insaid multicast control information storing section when said route setupcompletion notification is input to one input port.
 4. The networkswitch as set forth in claim 3, comprising: a process counter sectionthat obtains a route setup completion process count that is the numberof processes that said multicast control section has set up in saidtransfer route; a comparison section that compares whether or not theroute setup completion process count that said process counter sectionhas obtained matches a group member process count that is the number ofprocesses that join multicast communications; and a multicastinformation correction section that corrects the multicast controlinformation stored in said multicast control information storing sectionsuch that the multicast packet is not output to an output portcorrelated with an input port that has received said route setupcompletion notification when said route setup completion notification isreceived and said comparison section determines that the route setupcompletion process count matches the group member process count.
 5. Thenetwork switch as set forth in claim 3, comprising: a process countersection that obtains a route setup completion process count that is thenumber of processes that said multicast control section has set up insaid transfer route; a comparison section that compares whether or notthe route setup completion process count that said process countersection has obtained matches a group member process count that is thenumber of processes that join multicast communications; and a multicastinformation correction section that corrects the multicast controlinformation stored in said multicast control information storing sectionsuch that the multicast packet is not output to an output port thatoutputs said route setup command and the route setup command reaches adestination designated by the route setup command when the route setupcommand is received and said comparison section determines that theroute setup completion process count matches the group member processcount.
 6. The network switch as set forth in claim 4, wherein saidprocess counter and section obtains said route setup completion processcount when said route setup command is input to said input port.
 7. Thenetwork switch as set forth in claim 1, wherein said multicast controlinformation storing section stores multicast control informationcontaining a plurality of bits corresponding to said plurality of outputports, and wherein when values of said bits are updated, output portscorresponding to the updated bits are designated as output ports thatoutput said multicast packets.
 8. The network switch as set forth inclaim 7, wherein said multicast control information storing sectiondesignates multicast control information containing bits to be updatedwith a multicast ID that is identification information that identifiesmulticast communications.
 9. A multicast route setup method for anetwork switch that has a plurality of input ports and a plurality ofoutput ports correlated with the input ports and that outputs multicastpackets from said output ports, comprising: a multicast controlinformation storing process that stores multicast control informationthat is information that designates an output port that outputs saidmulticast packet from said plurality of output ports; a multicastcontrol process that causes said multicast control information storingprocess to set up a transfer route of said multicast packet, saidmulticast control process designating an output port correlated with aninput port that has received a route setup command that causes thenetwork switch to set up a transfer route and an output port thatoutputs the route setup command as output ports that transfer saidmulticast packet such that the route setup command reaches a destinationdesignated by the route setup command when the network switch receivesthe route setup command; and a multicast transfer process that outputsthe multicast packets to output ports other than the output portcorrelated with the input port that has received the multicast packet ofthe output ports designated by the multicast control information storedin said multicast control information storing process when the networkswitch receives the multicast packet.
 10. The multicast route setupmethod as set forth in claim 9, comprising: a completion notificationgeneration process that generates a route setup completion notificationthat denotes that a route has been set up; and a destination matchdetermination process that determines whether or not a destinationrepresented by destination information contained in said route setupcommand matches the network switch that has input the route setupcommand when the route setup command is input to said input port,wherein when said destination match determination process determinesthat the destination matches the network switch, after the route hasbeen set, said completion notification generation process generates saidroute setup completion notification, and wherein the generated routesetup completion notification is output to an output port designated bymulticast control information stored in said multicast controlinformation storing process.
 11. The route setup method as set forth inclaim 10, wherein the route setup completion notifications are output tooutput ports other than the output port correlated with the input portthat has received the route setup completion notification of the outputports designated by the multicast control information stored in saidmulticast control information storing process when said route setupcompletion notification is input to one input port.
 12. The route setupmethod as set forth in claim 11, comprising: a process count processthat obtains a route setup completion process count that is the numberof processes that said multicast control section has set up in saidtransfer route; a comparison process that compares whether or not theroute setup completion process count that said process count process hasobtained matches a group member process count that is the number ofprocesses that joins multicast communications; and a multicastinformation correction process that corrects the multicast controlinformation stored in said multicast control information storing processsuch that the multicast packet is not output to an output portcorrelated with an input port that has received said route setupcompletion notification when said route setup completion notification isreceived and said comparison process determines that the route setupcompletion process count matches the group member process count.
 13. Theroute setup method as set forth in claim 9, comprising: a process countprocess that obtains a route setup completion process count that is thenumber of processes that said multicast control section has set up insaid transfer route; a comparison process that compares whether or notthe route setup completion process count that said process count processhas obtained matches a group member process count that is the number ofprocesses that join multicast communications; and a multicastinformation correction process that corrects the multicast controlinformation stored in said multicast control information storing processsuch that the multicast packet is not output to an output port thatoutputs said route setup command and the route setup command reaches adestination designated by the route setup command when the route setupcommand is received and said comparison process determines that theroute setup completion process count matches the group member processcount.
 14. The route setup method as set forth in claim 12, wherein saidprocess count process obtains said route setup completion process countwhen said route setup command is input to said input port.
 15. The routesetup method as set forth in claim 9, wherein said multicast controlinformation storing process stores multicast is control informationcontaining a plurality of bits corresponding to said plurality of outputports, and wherein when values of said bits are updated, output portscorresponding to the updated bits are designated as output ports thatoutput said multicast packets.
 16. The route setup method as set forthin claim 15, wherein said multicast control information storing processdesignates multicast control information containing bits to be updatedwith a multicast ID that is identification information that identifiesmulticast communications.
 17. A computer-readable recording mediumstoring therein a program for enabling said computer to execute: amulticast control information storing procedure that stores multicastcontrol information that is information that designates an output portthat outputs a multicast packet from a plurality of output ports, anetwork switch that has a plurality of input ports and said plurality ofoutput ports correlated with the input ports; a multicast controlprocedure that causes said multicast control information storingprocedure to set up a transfer route of said multicast packet, saidmulticast control procedure designating an output port correlated withan input port that has received a route setup command that causes thenetwork switch to set up a transfer route and an output port thatoutputs the route setup command as output ports that transfer saidmulticast packet such that the route setup command reaches a destinationdesignated by the route setup command when the network switch receivesthe route setup command; and a multicast transfer procedure that outputsthe multicast packets to output ports other than the output portcorrelated with the input port that has received the multicast packet ofthe output ports designated by the multicast control information storedin said multicast control information storing procedure when the networkswitch receives the multicast packet.
 18. The computer-readablerecording medium as set forth in claim 17, wherein said program furtherenables said computer to execute: a completion notification generationprocedure that generates a route setup completion notification thatdenotes that a route has been set up; and a destination matchdetermination procedure that determines whether or not a destinationrepresented by destination information contained in said route setupcommand matches the network switch that has input the route setupcommand when the route setup command is input to said input port,wherein when said destination match determination procedure determinesthat the destination matches the network switch, after the route hasbeen set, said completion notification generation procedure generatessaid route setup completion notification, and wherein the generatedroute setup completion notification is output to an output portdesignated by multicast control information stored in said multicastcontrol information storing procedure.
 19. The computer-readablerecording medium as set forth in claim 18, wherein said program furtherenables said computer to execute: the route setup completionnotifications are output to output ports other than the output portcorrelated with the input port that has received the route setupcompletion notification of the output ports designated by the multicastcontrol information stored in said multicast control information storingprocedure when said route setup completion notification is input to oneinput port.
 20. The computer-readable recording medium as set forth inclaim 19, wherein said program further enables said computer to execute:a process count procedure that obtains a route setup completion processcount that is the number of processes that said multicast controlsection has set up in said transfer route; a comparison procedure thatcompares whether or not the route setup completion process count thatsaid process count procedure has obtained matches a group member processcount that is the number of processes that join multicastcommunications; and a multicast information correction procedure thatcorrects the multicast control information stored in said multicastcontrol information storing procedure such that the multicast packet isnot output to an output port correlated with an input port that hasreceived said route setup completion notification when said route setupcompletion notification is received and said comparison proceduredetermines that the route setup completion process count matches thegroup member process count.
 21. The computer-readable recording mediumas set forth in claim 17, wherein said program further enables saidcomputer to execute: a process count procedure that obtains a routesetup completion process count that is the number of processes that saidmulticast control section has set up said transfer route; a comparisonprocedure that compares whether or not the route setup completionprocess count that said process count procedure has obtained matches agroup member process count that is the number of processes that joinmulticast communications; and a multicast information correctionprocedure that corrects the multicast control information stored in saidmulticast control information storing procedure such that the multicastpacket is not output to an output port that outputs said route setupcommand and the route setup command reaches a destination designated bythe route setup command when the route setup command is received andsaid comparison procedure determines that the route setup completionprocess count matches the group member process count.
 22. Thecomputer-readable recording medium as set forth in claim 20, whereinsaid process count procedure obtains said route setup completion processcount when said route setup command is input to said input port.
 23. Thecomputer-readable recording medium as set forth in claim 17, whereinsaid multicast control information storing procedure stores multicastcontrol information containing a plurality of bits corresponding to saidplurality of output ports, and wherein when values of said bits areupdated, output ports corresponding to the updated bits are designatedas output ports that output said multicast packets.
 24. Thecomputer-readable recording medium as set forth in claim 23, whereinsaid multicast control information storing procedure designatesmulticast control information containing bits to be updated with amulticast ID that is identification information that identifiesmulticast communications.
 25. A parallel computer system in which aplurality of computation nodes are connected by a mutual connectionnetwork, wherein said mutual connection network is composed of a networkswitch as set forth in claim 1, and wherein a multicast communicationactivity is provided between said plurality of computation nodes.